Shoulders

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Your shoulders can carry a tremendous amount of weight and are highly involved in high-impact sports, which is what leads many people to complain about shoulder pain regardless of their age or level of engagement in physical activity. If you are experiencing shoulder pain or debilitating shoulder problems, the Intermountain Healthcare Orthopedic Specialties Group can help you get the right diagnosis and treatment.

Causes of Shoulder Pain

Often, shoulder pain will go away on its own after enough rest and time, some shoulder pain is persistent and can be indicative of a more serious shoulder condition that will need medical attention and treatment. Shoulder pain might be caused by:

Rotator cuff tendinitis

Rotator cuff tears

Adhesive capsulitis

Calcific tendinitis

Shoulder instability, dislocation, or separation

Arthritis

Biceps tendon rupture

Lesions

Tears

Many causes of shoulder pain can be treated by an orthopedic specialist and the sooner you receive treatment, the more likely you are to experience a quick recovery. If you are experiencing shoulder pain that is not relieved by icing or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication (ibuprofen), talk to your doctor about possible orthopedic solutions.

Shoulder Treatments

If you have been experiencing shoulder pain for a short time (24-48 hours), you might want to consider rest, applying a heat pad, or icing it. This type of treatment typically shows results in a day or two. If your shoulder still hurts following this treatment, you may be experiencing something more serious. If this is the case, you should schedule an appointment with an orthopedic specialist.

An orthopedic specialist may suggest one or more of the following treatments to help with your shoulder condition:

Physical therapy

Stretching

Anti-inflammatory prescriptions

Steroid injections

Shoulder surgery

Except in the most serious situations, our orthopedic specialists perform non-surgical methods to help lessen or alleviate your shoulder pain. However, if the problem worsens or the treatment isn’t working, surgery might be your best option.

If you are experiencing shoulder pain and believe that you need orthopedic treatment, we can help you find an orthopedic specialist that is right for your situation.